Background
North Waziristan Agency (NWA) is the second largest Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with Miranshah as its headquarter. It is bounded on the north by Afghanistan, Kurram Agency and Hangu District, on the east by FR Bannu and Karak, and, Bannu district; on the south by South Waziristan Agency. NWA borders Afghanistan’s Paktika and Khost provinces. Chief tribes in NWA are the Utmanzai Wazirs and Dawars, while Gurbaz, Kharsins, Saidgis and Malakshi Mahsuds are among the small tribes. Subsequent to the launching of military Operation Zarb e Azb by the Pakistan Armed Forces on 15 June 2014, the entire Agency was notified as conflict zone and the inhabitants of NWA moved to the neighboring districts of Bannu, Lakki Marwat, D I Khan, etc. In addition a sizeable population moved to the adjacent provinces of Afghanistan. According UNHCR’s IDPs factsheet (16 March 2015), a total of 102,424 families have been verified by NADRA and registered as IDPs. After the conclusion of the aforementioned military operation, the authorities announced de-notification and the return process initiated on 31 March 2016. Till 30 August 2016 approximately 53,000 families have returned.
The decision was announced during the Return Task Force Meeting on 16 August 2016. The authorities planned to facilitate return of approximately 6,900 families to 69 villages in 4 tehsils of NWA (Mir Ali, Miranshah, Ghulam Khan and Datta Khel).
Inter-Cluster Assessment Mission
An Inter-Cluster Assessment Mission was initiated on 26-28 August 2016 to assess the viability for returns to the newly de-notified areas of NWA.
The objective of the mission was to gather relevant information that would assist humanitarian actors in making informed decision regarding suitability of returns under the prevailing conditions. The mission also aimed to identify critical needs/requirements of returnees in the return areas.
The mission held meetings with the political administration, military and male and female community members.
However, they could not meet the respective line departments due to their unavailability and faced access constraint to some villages. The team managed to observe only 14 villages of Mirali, Miranshah, Ghulam Khan and Datta Khel tehsil from the roadside. Overall, the security situation was perceived to be good as the recently denotified areas was under the military control.
Key Findings
Meetings with the government officials indicated the need for humanitarian support during the interim period to ensure sustainability of the return process and proper linkages with Government-led development activities and plans. Rehabilitation work was underway in the existing WASH, education and health facilities. The team noted that the returnees could face several challenges such as lack of adequate drinking water, and income generating Completetly damaged Degan Bazar at Datta Khelactivities and time required to prepare and cultivate barren lands. Prior to the displacement, most of the people relied on illegal business across the border, which has now been curtailed by the military.
As witnessed in other parts of FATA, ensuring availability of staff to work in health and education facilities will be a challenge. The low trend of girl’s education was also noted.
The PA Administration informed the mission that shelter damages are higher in Datta Khel tehsil compared to damages in Mirali, Miranshah and Ghulam Khan tehsils where most of the houses are considered to be in habitable condition. In addition, the officials also indicated that rehabilitation and construction of tehsil head quarter hospitals, BHUs, schools, water supply schemes, electricity, and solarization of most tube wells and provision of water collection points for drinking and household purposes were being undertaken. Main access roads across the de-notified parts (except at Datta Khel tehsil) are carpeted and open for use. Level 3 (demining) for most of the visited newly de-notified villages was in-progress, which limited the team’s movement to the villages. The military was providing water through tankering in areas where solar pumps had not been installed.
Recommendations
Provision of household water storage containers including small water tanks, buckets and jerry cans
Rehabilitation of basic WASH facilities in schools/health centers
Establish temporary learning centers
Repair and renovation of schools and health facilities
Provision of livelihood support such as agricultural tools/seeds, livestock and poultry inputs to create short term employment through conditional assistance such as food for work and food for training
Rehabilitation of water/ irrigation channels and link road through cash for work
Provision of conditional cash grant to returnees for repair of damaged houses
Establish vocational training centers as a special support for persons with specific needs
Initiation of community based management of acute malnutrition programme
Establish mental health rehabilitation centers and provision of counseling services